COWICHAN TRIBES, BC,
June 24,
2024 /CNW/ - The children, youth and families
of Cowichan Tribes will have new opportunities to thrive
surrounded by the love, care and support of their community now
that jurisdiction has been recognized and restored back to the
Nation. This restoration, affirmed under An Act respecting First
Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families,
recognizes their inherent right to self-determination. By managing
all aspects of their child and family services, including
prevention, protection measures, and operations, Cowichan Tribes
can prioritize the best interests of their children as defined by
their community.
Today, Chief Cindy Daniels
(Sulsulxumaat), Cowichan Tribes; the Honourable Patty Hajdu,
Minister of Indigenous Services; and the Honourable Grace Lore,
B.C. Minister of Children and Family Development signed a
historic coordination agreement. This coordination agreement
will support the implementation of Snuw'uy'ulhtst tu Quw'utsun
Mustimuhw u' tu Shhw'a'luqw'a I' Smun'eem (The Laws of the Cowichan
People for Families and Children) for Cowichan citizens across
Vancouver Island and the Gulf
Islands, with the potential for future expansion across B.C.
and Canada. The Law's
implementation includes the full transfer of all child and family
services, operations and programs to Cowichan Tribes'
responsibility and control.
Every aspect of the Law is grounded in Quw'utsun snuw'uy'ulh
(teachings), values, family customs, and traditions to ensure love,
respect, and keeping children with their families are prioritized
in decision making, including court processes. Cowichan families
and community members will be empowered to support the safety and
well-being of children and youth, while extended families and
Elders become more involved in the work to preserve and enhance
children's connections to their family, community, culture and
language. The Law also mandates prevention and provisions for
people in need, which means that robust Cowichan-centric services
will be offered to families facing challenges, such as poverty,
inadequate housing, substance misuse, or mental health issues. This
holistic Quw'utsun approach focuses on enabling family wellness,
safeguarding children's best interests, and ensuring generational
teachings and values are passed on to future generations.
The coordination agreement signed today is the eighth in
Canada, and the second
in British Columbia under the Act. It outlines coordination
mechanisms and support for Cowichan Tribes' law to come into force
over child and family services. This includes funding from the
federal and provincial governments to establish that sustainable
and appropriate resources are available. The federal government is
providing approximately $207.5
million and B.C. has committed to providing $22 million to support the four-year agreement
with Cowichan Tribes, for the period of 2024–25 to 2027–28.
By working together, we are making progress towards supporting
Indigenous Peoples to determine and implement solutions for their
children and families that improve their well-being. As more
agreements are signed, more Indigenous children and youth will grow
up surrounded by the love, support and guidance of their community,
fostering a brighter future for generations to come.
Quotes
"Our Quw'utsun smun'eem (children) deserve to thrive within
their families and our culture. I am heartened to sign this
historic coordination agreement on behalf of Quw'utsun Mustimuhw. I
am thinking today of the generations of our children who
experienced the trauma of being removed from their families and our
community. The implementation of our Child Law recognizes our
inherent right to govern our children in accordance with our
snuw'uy'ulh (teachings) and ensure a better future for our
people."
Chief Cindy Daniels
(Sulsulxumaat),
Cowichan Tribes
"The people of Cowichan Tribes are now taking back control of
their child and family services, something that should have never
been taken away in the first place. With the signing of this
coordination agreement, Cowichan children will grow up better
supported, immersed in their culture and connected to their land.
This is a significant step in providing everyone with a fair chance
to succeed."
The Honourable Patty Hajdu,
Minister of Indigenous Services
"This agreement is a historic step for the Cowichan Tribes whose
members will be able to receive child and family services from
their own people within their own community, and based on their own
teachings and values under Cowichan law. British Columbia became the first province in
Canada to expressly recognize the
inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples to care for their own kids
and families, and with this agreement, we bring the spirit of that
legislation to life. Congratulations to the Cowichan people on this
historic milestone."
The Honourable Grace Lore,
B.C. Minister of Children and Family Development
Quick facts
- Cowichan Tribes is the largest First Nation in British Columbia by population and is
comprised of seven traditional villages: Kwa'mutsun, Qwum'yiqun',
Xwulqw'selu, S'amunu, Lhumlhumuluts', Xinupsum, Tl'ulpalus.
- Cowichan Tribes has established its Child and Family Services
Authority: Stsi'elh stuhw'ew't-hw tun Smun'eem (Honouring Our
Sacred Children and Families) with a Board of Directors. The Board
is in the process of appointing a CEO for the management of the
Authority. Cowichan Tribes Council will have responsibilities to
support the Authority, make regulations, and ensure it is
functioning properly, but will not be involved in day-to-day
operations or case decisions.
- Since 1993, Cowichan Tribes has delivered services to its
members through its provincially delegated Indigenous child and
family services agency - Lalum'utul' Smun'eem. As one of the first
Indigenous child and family services agencies in British Columbia, Lalum'utul' Smun'eem
delivered crucial prevention and protection services to Cowichan
children and youth on reserve and, more recently, all of those
residing in the Cowichan Valley.
- Key milestones in Cowichan Tribes' journey toward re-exerting
jurisdiction over child and family services include the signing of
a tripartite Letter of Understanding in 2019 that committed
Cowichan Tribes, Canada and the
Province of B.C. to work collaboratively on recognizing Cowichan
Tribes' jurisdiction. After extensive community engagement and
working with Elders to create the Snuw'uy'ulhtst tu Quw'utsun
Mustimuhw u' tu Shhw'a'luqw'a' i' Smun'eem (The Laws of the
Cowichan People for Families and Children), Cowichan citizens voted
in favour of the new Law on November 24,
2023.
- For most Indigenous children, Child and Family Services are
provided under the legislation of the province or territory where
the children and families reside.
- On January 1, 2020, An
Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth
and families (the Act) came into force. The Act affirms the
inherent right to self-government of Indigenous Peoples, which
includes jurisdiction over child and family services, provides a
pathway for Indigenous communities to exercise jurisdiction over
child and family services, and sets out principles applicable, on a
national level, to the provision of child and family services to
Indigenous children.
- In November 2020, the Prime
Minister announced over $542 million
in funding to advance First Nations, Inuit and Métis engagement to
co-develop the implementation of the Act and to support Indigenous
communities and groups in building the capacity to establish their
own child and family services systems.
- Through Budget 2021, the Government of Canada invested an additional $73.6 million to be used over four years,
starting in 2021−22, for additional resources to implement the
Act.
- Through Budget 2022, the Government of Canada invested an additional $87.3 million over three years, starting in
2022−23, to increase capacity building and funding for
coordination agreement discussion tables to support the exercise of
First Nations, Inuit and Métis jurisdiction in relation to child
and family services.
- With funding announced in the 2022 Fall Economic
Statement, Budget 2023 also provides $444.2 million over three years, starting in
2022−23, to support Peguis First Nation in Manitoba and Louis
Bull Tribe in Alberta to
exercise jurisdiction over their child welfare systems and make
decisions about what is best for their children and families.
- Through Budget 2024, the Government of Canada proposes to provide $1.8 billion over 11 years, starting in 2023−24,
to support communities in exercising jurisdiction under the Act,
including the first Inuit agreement to support community-led,
prevention-based solutions to reduce the number of children in
care.
- The B.C. Indigenous Self-Government in Child and Family
Services Amendment Act passed into law on November 25, 2022, making B.C. the first province
in Canada to expressly recognize
the inherent right of self-government of Indigenous communities
including jurisdiction over child and family services.
- This is the second coordination agreement signed by B.C.
following the Splatsin Stsmamlt agreement on March 24, 2023.
Associated links
- Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children,
youth and families
- Reducing the number of Indigenous children in care
- Notices and requests related to An Act respecting First
Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families
- B.C.'s Bill 38: Indigenous Self-Government in Child and
Family Services Amendment Act
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SOURCE Indigenous Services Canada